Wednesdays Spring 2010 Schedule

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

J
A
Execute Justice, Not People. M
A
The Commoditization of the Results of
N Donna Schneweis, Amnesty Int’l State Death Penalty Aboli-
tion Coordinator. Since its resumption in 1994, the Kansas
R Scholarship and the Public Mission of
20 death penalty has had many documented problems. Schneweis 10 the University. Ada Emmett, Associate Librarian for Schol-
will address how the death penalty diverts social resources from arly Communication, University of Kansas Libraries. Emmett will
programs that have a positive impact on society, the status of the address the shifting flow of scholarship away from a gift
2010 abolition bill in the Legislature, and how interested persons economy toward the privatization and commoditization of
can become more involved.
knowledge. Whether this meets the public mission of the
university will be discussed as well.
J
A
Voices From Slavery: The Federal Writers'
N Project Slave Narrative Collection. Norm Yetman, Pro-
March 17th—Spring Break
fessor of American Studies and Sociology. During the 1930s, M
27 WPA workers recorded interviews with more than 2,000 former A
The Interfaith Imperative in a Chaotic
slaves. Virtually forgotten for decades, these interviews were
rediscovered during the 1960s, marking a major turning point in
R World. Bill Tammaeus, retired KC Star reporter. From his
the historical understanding of American slavery and the people most recent book, Visitation: A Century of Faith, Tammeus
24 will address the imperative of interfaith cooperation and
who endured and survived it.
understanding in a world often set aflame by religious vio-
F
E
Galaxies as Island Universes. Gregory Rudnick, lence.
B Asst. Prof of Astronomy. Rudnick will describe our Milky A
Way galaxy and other galaxies in the Universe as collec- P
3 tions of tens of billions of stars held together by their own R Mexico Solidarity Network. Shona Clarkson and
gravity. In addition to discussing their diverse properties, Ben Jeffries, KU students. After 6 months of living in Mexican
Rudnick will discuss how galaxies have evolved through 7 communities and learning about indigenous movements in
13.7 billion years of cosmic time since the Big Bang. Chiapas and campesinos in Tlaxcala, Clarkson and Jeffries
will address political movements and regional autonomy.
F
E
Is Moby-Dick Still the Great American
B Novel?: Beth Schultz, Professor Emerita of English. A
Health Care for All? Marci Neilsen, Vice Chancellor
Author of Unpainted to the Last , Schultz will speak on P
10 Moby-Dick and 20th Century American art. It will be a R for Public Affairs at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr.
Nielsen will describe federal health reform and its impact
visual presentation.
14 on individuals and families in Kansas. Whether it’s called
“socialized medicine” or “equality care,” the debate is
F
E
Fresh Grow In the Winter Snow? surely leading toward major change in our current health
care system.
B Rita York and the Douglas County Food Policy Advisory Coun-
cil. Rita will lead a panel with Douglas County Food A
Things You Keep Say a Lot about Who
17 Policy Advisory Council members on the possibilities for P
local food growth and sustainability. What food systems R You Are. David J. Ekerdt, Sociology Professor. Dr. Ekerdt
are possible? will review the multiple reasons why people keep (so many)
21 things and have a hard time releasing them. Keeping and releas-
F ing not only entail work but also an encounter with one’s identity.
E
B
Kaw Valley Spirits’ Influence on Teddy
Roosevelt. Dan Wildcat & the Kaw Valley Heritage Alli- A Talking American Politics from
P
24 ance. Delving into some fascinating eco-history, we’ll hear
R Kurdistan to Katmandu . Burdett Loomis, Political
the answer to the question: How did Kaw Valley Spirits Science. In the wake of five two-week speaking tours, sponsored
influence Teddy Roosevelt's conservation attitude before 28 by the U.S. State Department, I will talk about viewing U.S. Poli-
his 1910 visit to Wakarusa Watershed (aka Lawrence, KS)? tics from 10,000 miles away, in terms of my varied audiences and
setting, and the relationships between the U. S. and a variety of
M
A
The Challenges of Providing Asian nations. More generally, I’ll reflect on 20 years of traveling
and lecturing for the State Department and how I’ve learned a lot,
R Sustainable Water and Sanitation in even as I have taught about the ins and outs of American politics
and politicians.
3 Emerging Nations. Craig Adams, Civil Engineering
Professor. Approximately 2 billion of the Earth's citizens
lack access to sanitation and safe drinking water. Adam’s M The Future of Lawrence Public Schools.
A Rick Doll, Superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools. Doll will
will provide an overview of the scope of the water and
Y address proposed changes for the next academic year due to
sanitation crisis, key technological solutions for developing
budget concerns. How will education remain high quality?
nations, and the critical need for proper education and for 5 Come and discuss the future for Lawrence’s children.
social buy-in within communities.

Spring 2010 Planning will be Wednesday, May 12, 1 1:30am-1pm at ECM.. Please bring topic s and/or presenter
suggestions. This session is open to anyone; previous attendance at a University-Community Forum is not required.